Weekly Report 42: Broken Windows

Not too long ago, I looked into the Broken Windows theory, which is very controversial and well known. Now, the Broken Windows Theory is an academic theory in Criminology that implies that vandalism leads to urban decay which leads to a significant increase in crime. Essentially, the theory say that we can ensure order and lawfulness and prevent serious crimes in an area by monitoring urban communities and preventing petty crimes such as vandalism and public indecency. The following diagram illustrates the basics of the Broken Windows Theory.

So how did this theory come about? The Broken Windows theory was introduced to the public in 1982 by sociologist James Q. Wilson and criminologist George Kelling in an article. The article, published in the 1982 March issue of The Atlantic Monthly, was titled Broken Windows. Now, the theory received its unusual name from a metaphor used in the article regarding broken windows.

Read more about it in my Research Assessment.

~ Shrinidhi Joshi

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